Extra Services

Pet Boom Solution

By: David Knickerbocker

Date Posted: 2001-10-23

Several organizations are working together in an effort to solve the problem of the numerous stray animals wandering the streets of Japan. The problem of stray dogs and cats has been increasing in some areas, and this is not a problem to ignore. In 2000 alone, the government took in 550,000 cats and dogs, and most of them were killed in gas chambers or taken in by so called animal care and protection centers.

The problem of violent crimes in Japan, by humans and animals alike, has been on the rise in recent years, and these organizations feel they have a solution to this problem as well as the problem of the mass of stray animals wandering the streets. The solution: by placing stray animals in spare rooms and abandoned schools, they think they can have a positive impact on human society with children and animals interacting together. This interaction will hopefully create a healthy environment for both humans and animals to cause, more or less, a cultivation of thoughtfulness in society.

These organizations feel that by giving people a conscience about the problem of stray animals and through interaction, humans and animals can interact in harmony with each other. Also, as there are fewer children in Japan and more old people than before, many of the schools throughout the nation have been coming together under one roof, so there are many abandoned schools in Japan.

The organizationsí goal is to build a system where stray animals are no longer a burden on society and where humans and animals can live harmoniously together, an ideal plan. These organizations feel that it is very important to think about life in this society and to take notice and protect the children who are hurt and animals that are easily thrown away and killed.

By using closed schools and with the help of governmental and private organizations working together, they feel they have found a good solution to the problem at hand.

There are three main advantages the groups see in their plan. By participating in animal care activities as a volunteer in a shelter, these buildings can be used to cultivate thoughtfulness in the society. Also, by allowing elderly people in the community to work with these animal care efforts, it will give them more purpose to live and they will have more interaction with people and other generations in the community.

Last, but certainly not least, the organizations hope that their plan will give the dogs and cats that have no choice but to be destroyed another chance at life. The group is currently asking for help from volunteers, local communities, and government organizations in order to see their plan come into effect. If you would like to get involved, please come to the Japan Update office and sign a petition form.

In another effort to help animals, a few animal hospitals around the island have joined together to help animals during the late night hours, from 8 p.m. to midnight, when other veterinary clinics are closed. Call 098-833-6067 to confirm the telephone number of a clinic available for a nighttime emergency, and then call the clinic directly to make your reservation before coming. Also, please understand that the service is only for emergency cases. Following is a list of animal clinics joining the night program.